Defending champions Geelong travelled to the Gold Coast to take on the Suns, and returned home with the points; withstanding a third quarter burst by the Suns to steady and record a comfortable 49-point win on Friday night.The Cats left many of their big names at home, but the Suns had a real dip early. Nathan Bock landed a super-goal in the first term, as the Suns stayed in touch with the Cats and trailed by just four points at the first change. But the Cats, with five goals to one in the second term, extended the lead to 27 points at the long break.But Gold Coast refused to surrender meekly, four goals to two in the third term reducing the margin to 15 points and giving them the slightest of hopes of coming back to steal the game. But any such hopes were blown out of the water in the opening minute of the final term, as Joel Selwood went long for a nine-pointer that put the game out of Gold Coast’s reach. Five more goals followed as the margin blew out, as the young Cats put on an exhibition to press their claims for senior selection in the upcoming season.Geelong 0.4.3 0.9.6 0.11.10 1.16.13 (118)Gold Coast 1.2.2 1.3.6 1.7.10 1.8.12 (69)Nine-Point Goals : Geelong – J Selwood. Gold Coast – N Bock.Goals : Geelong - J Bartel 3, T Hawkins 2, S Motlop 2, G Horlin-Smith 2, S Hogan, J Stringer, J Shroder, T West, C Guthrie, M Brown, S Kersten. Gold Coast - N Bock 3, G Ablett 2, J O'Meara, L Russell, C Brown.Best : Geelong – J Bartel, J Selwood, T Hunt, S Hogan, C Guthrie, M Brown. Gold Coast – G Ablett, J Brennan, N Bock, H Bennell, D Prestia, M Weller.Injuries : Geelong – A Mackie (finger). Gold Coast – Nil.Reports – Nil. Umpires - Kamolins, McInerney, Jeffery, Mitchell.Crowd – 5,381 at Metricon Stadium.

Hawthorn indicated themselves to be a premiership threat, while handing the young GWS Giants a reality check, when the Hawks completed a comfortable 74-point win over the Giants at Aurora Stadium on Saturday afternoon.The Hawks started quickly, with David Hale kicking a goal that took some time for the video replay to confirm, and then a long super-goal by Ryan Schoenmakers. The Hawks were looking strong as they raced to a 19 point lead at quarter time, and with Michael Osborne landing a super-goal in the second term and five more goals added, the lead blew out to 44 point at the long break.The third quarter didn’t reach any great heights for either team, but the Giants at least salvaged something out of the game with some better play in the final quarter, including NRL convert Israel Folau getting a goal and laying some strong tackles.But overall, it was a strong Hawthorn performance. Lance Franklin didn’t play, but their midfield was close to full strength, creating plenty of opportunities for the forwards. With 32 scoring shots to 14, it was a one-sided exhibition of football; the Hawks showing themselves as 2012 contenders, while showing that the inexperienced GWS side has plenty of work to do before the season starts.Hawthorn 1.2.5 2.7.10 2.10.13 2.12.18 (108)Greater Western Sydney 0.1.10.2.5 0.2.8 0.4.10 (34)Nine-Point Goals : Hawthorn – R Schoenmakers, M Osborne.Goals : Hawthorn – D Hale 3, L Breust 2, G Birchall, L Hodge, B Hill, I Smith, K Cheney, C Bruce, J Gunston. GWS Giants – N Wilson 2, I Folau, A Tomlinson.Best : Hawthorn – S Savage, S Burgoyne, R Schoenmakers, I Smith, C Young, C Bruce. GWS Giants – D Smith, R Palmer, S Coniglio, J Bruce, S Darley, W Hoskin-Elliot.Injuries : Hawthorn – Nil. GWS Giants - N Wilson (ankle).Reports – Nil. Umpires - Jennings, McBurney, Burgess, Foot.Crowd – 5,100 at Aurora Stadium.

West Coast were made to fight all the way by a determined Port Adelaide, but the Eagles hung on to take the game by just five points at Mandurah on Saturday afternoon.The Eagles started brightly, with Will Schofield landing an early super-goal to assist the Eagles to a 20-point quarter time lead. But Tom Logan landed a nine-pointer early in the second to spearhead a Port fightback; with John Butcher scoring four goals in the first half to reduce the margin to seven points at half time. It was hot, the mercury reaching 35 degrees, and the Eagles turned up the intensity after half time with a five-goal quarter; and a lead of 19 points at the last change looked to be enough.But the Power fought back in the last term, and with five minutes to go took the lead. But the Eagles came up with the winner, Daniel Kerr finding himself in the right position to mark and goal to get the Eagles over the line. It had been a tough contest in the heat, but West Coast had the answers when it mattered to fall over the line.West Coast 1.3.6 1.5.10 1.10.11 1.12.11 (92)Port Adelaide 0.2.1 1.5.3 1.8.4 1.12.6 (87)Nine-Point Goals : West Coast – W Schofield. Port Adelaide – T Logan.Goals : West Coast – D Kerr 2, K Stevens 2, A Hams 2, R Neates 2, C Masten, D Cox, T Swift, F McInnes. Port Adelaide – J Butcher 5, J McCarthy 3, S Salopek, D Stewart, M Banner, M Broadbent.Best : West Coast – C Masten, D Kerr, M Priddis, D Cox, A Gaff, K Stevens. Port Adelaide –J McCarthy, J Redden, T Chaplin, S Salopek, D Stewart, D Pfeiffer.Injuries : West Coast – Nil. Port Adelaide – Nil.Reports – Nil. Umpires - O'Neill, Dalgliesh, Farmer, McPhee.Crowd - approx. 9,000 at Bendigo Bank Stadium, Mandurah.

AFL pre-season in the north-west of Sydney saw the Swans take on North Melbourne; on a wet and slippery Saturday night. In the tricky conditions, the game was played in front of a small crowd and never reached any great heights, but the Swans had enough to record a 17-point win.The Swans kicked the only two goals of a lacklustre first term, but the Kangaroos kicked three quick goals at the start of the second to take the lead. Gary Rohan then made an impact with the play of the day, giving the North Melbourne defenders a 20 metre head start but running them down to be first to the ball and soccer a sensational goal.Thanks to Rohan’s heroics, the Swans led by five points at the long break. But they gained the ascendancy in the third term, with Kieran Jack landing a super-goal to spearhead the Swans’ charge, extending the lead to 19 points at three-quarter time. Lewis Jetta landed a nine-pointer in the opening minute of the final term, and with two more quick goals the lead was out to 40 points and the game was safe. The Kangaroos scored five goals in the last 15 minutes to salvage some respectability on the scoreboard; but over the course of the evening the Swans had been easily the superior side and deserved their comfortable victory.Click here to see Harboursport's photo gallery from this match.Sydney 0.2.5 0.4.7 1.6.8 2.9.10 (82)North Melbourne 0.0.3 0.3.8 0.4.10 0.9.11 (65)Nine Point Goals : Sydney - L Jetta, K Jack.Goals : Sydney – C Bird 3, M Morton, M Seaby, G Rohan, A Everitt, H Cunningham, N Malceski. North Melbourne – B Harvey 3, L Thomas 2, M Campbell, D Petrie, A Edwards, A Black.Best : Sydney – J Bolton, C Bird, N Malceski, N Smith, K Jack, B McGlynn. North Melbourne – H McIntosh, A Swallow, L Adams, B Harvey, S Atley, J Ziebell.Injuries : Sydney – Nil. North Melbourne – Nil.Reports – Nil. Umpires - Nicholls, Ryan, Stephens, Gleeson.Crowd - 2,024 at Bruce Purser Reserve.

Essendon and St Kilda were drawn to play on Saturday night in Wangaratta; but the weather was unkind to the fixture. A week of flooding rain in the lead-up to the game led to concerns as to whether the game could proceed, with the game having been called off at one stage but then put back on.St Kilda came up by bus and arrived at the ground. Essendon boarded two chartered planes to fly to Wangaratta; but the bad weather meant the planes were unable to land and eventually turned back to Melbourne. With the Bombers unable to get to the ground, the game was abandoned.The AFL’s reaction to Essendon’s non-arrival was quick and decisive. The Bombers were deemed to have forfeited the game, with St Kilda being awarded the match.St Kilda defeated Essendon – forfeit.

The roof was closed at Docklands on Saturday night; and inside the upset of the NAB Cup took place as Melbourne stunned Collingwood by nine points.The first half was a scrappy affair, both sides struggling to get any run going. The Demons were matching it with the Magpies around the ground, but letting themselves down with some wasteful finishing to be only three points ahead at quarter time. And the pattern of Melbourne inaccuracy continued in the second term, the Demons returning to the half time sheds on 3.9. Collingwood had been far from impressive, but had done just enough to lead by a point at the long break.Heath Shaw went long from outside the 50 early in the third term to land the only super-goal of the match; but the Demons then took the upper hand with the next four goals to take the lead. Despite a late Collingwood fightback, the Demons retained the lead and held a three point margin at the last change. Sensing an opportunity for a morale-boosting win, the Demons didn’t ease off in the last quarter, with the first four goals of the quarter setting up what would be a match-winning break. Collingwood came storming home late, but the Demons had enough of a buffer to hold them out to complete a remarkable win.Melbourne 0.2.6 0.3.9 0.7.11 0.11.13 (79)Collingwood 0.2.3 0.4.4 1.6.5 1.9.7 (70)Nine-Point Goals : Collingwood – H Shaw.Goals : Melbourne – R Petterd 2, S Martin 2, N Jones 2, L Dunn 2, J Howe, B Green, C Sylvia. Collingwood – D Thomas 2, L Rounds 2, T Cloke, N Maxwell, J Paine, J Ceglar, L Ball.Best : Melbourne – C Garland, J Magner, R Petterd, C Sylvia, T Couch, J Macdonald. Collingwood – H Shaw, L Ball, D Thomas, S Pendlebury, L Keeffe, B Reid.Injuries : Melbourne – Nil. Collingwood – Nil.Reports – Nil. Umpires - Stevic, Armstrong, Kronk.Crowd - 12,954 at Etihad Stadium.

The AFL pre-season travelled to the interior, with Adelaide taking on Brisbane in Alice Springs on Saturday night. And it would be the Crows who would handle the conditions the better, taking control from the start to cruise to a comfortable 51-point win.The Lions tried hard to stay with the Crows after the Adelaide side started with three quick goals, and there were only eight points in it at quarter time. But the second quarter was all Adelaide, with four unanswered goals seeing the Crows 34 points ahead at the long break.Brisbane needed a spark if they were to have any hope of getting back into the contest, and it came with a long range supergoal by Ashley McGrath. But the Lion revival would be short-lived, as Jason Porplyzia came on for his first run of 2012 and showed he was over his injury worries as he went up for a spectacular high mark. By the last change the margin was out to 47 points, and although the Lions matched it with the Crows over the last quarter, the damage was done; and the Crows remain undefeated after three games.Adelaide 0.3.2 0.7.4 0.10.6 0.14.9 (93)Brisbane 0.2.0 0.2.0 1.3.2 1.5.3 (42)Nine-Point Goals : Brisbane – A McGrath.Goals : Adelaide – T Lynch 2, J Jenkins 2, S McKernan 2, B Vince, C Knights, T Walker, J Petrenko, R Douglas, R Sloane, I Callinan, T McIntyre. Brisbane – T Rockliff, C Beams, R Bewick, J Polec, J Polkinghorne.Best : Adelaide – P Dangerfield, S McKernan, B Symes, B Vince, R Sloane, I Callinan. Brisbane – M Golby, T Rockliff, M Maguire, J Redden, J Polkinghorne, C Stiller.Injuries : Adelaide – Nil. Brisbane – Nil.Reports – Nil. Umpires - J Mollison, M Leppard, D Harris.Crowd - 4,756 at Traeger Park, Alice Springs.

It was a see-sawing thriller at Docklands on Sunday evening, with the Western Bulldogs falling over the line against Carlton by four points, continuing the Blues’ winless NAB Cup campaign to date.The game was a shootout early, with nine goals scored in the first quarter. With five of them going the way of the Bulldogs, they led by seven points at quarter time. The high-scoring nature of the game continued in the second term, and the Bulldogs held an eight-point lead at the long break.The Blues took the lead early in the third term, and the lead see-sawed over the remainder of the game. The Bulldogs held a two-point lead at the last change, only for Eddie Betts to snap his fifth in the opening minute of the final quarter to put the Blues back in front.Unlike the early stages of the game, the defences were getting on top. The ball travelled slowly from end to end, but neither side could find a way to goals until late in the quarter when Tory Dickson played on to snap truly and snatch the win for the Bulldos.Will Minson had a strong game for the Bulldogs to finish with four goals, while Eddie Betts kicked five for the Blues. A high-scoring first half, a low-scoring second; and a close finish kept the crowd of just over 10,000 entertained in what was an absorbing pre-season contest.Western Bulldogs 0.5.2 0.8.3 0.10.5 0.11.8 (74)Carlton 0.4.1 0.7.1 0.10.3 0.11.4 (70)Goals : Bulldogs – W Minson 4, L Dahlhaus 2, S Higgins, D Giansiracusa, J Grant, A Cooney, T Dickson. Carlton – E Betts 5, J Garlett, K Simpson, M Kreuzer, C Yarran, S Hampson, F Dale.Best : Bulldogs – L Picken, W Minson, R Griffen, D Giansiracusa, R Hargrave, M Boyd. Carlton – A Carrazzo, K Simpson, H Scotland, M Kreuzer, M Murphy, B Gibbs.Injuries : Bulldogs – T Williams (shoulder). Carlton – J Laidler (dislocated kneecap).Reports - Nil.Crowd – 10,500 at Etihad Stadium.

It took Fremantle three quarters to shake off the persistent Richmond, but the Dockers pulled away in the last quarter to record a 38-point win at Subiaco on Sunday evening.Fremantle were without big names Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands, who were both late withdrawals; and early on the Tigers threatened to get on top, only to be pegged back by the Dockers who reduced the Richmond lead to two points at quarter time. And after a four goal second quarter, the Dockers took the lead into the long break.Early in the second half, Greg Broughton landed the only super-goal of the day. But the Tigers refused to concede, and stayed with the Dockers during the third quarter. At the last change the Dockers led by 21 points, but Richmond kept coming; and with the first two goals of the last term the margin was back to eight points. But that was as far as the Tigers could go, as the latter stages of the game were one-way traffic, the home side racing to victory.Fremantle 0.2.4 0.6.6 1.8.10 1.14.12 (105)Richmond 0.3.0 0.5.2 0.7.4 0.10.7 (67)Nine-Point Goals : Fremantle – G Broughon.Goals : Fremantle - K Bradley 3, J Pitt 3, J Mellington 2, N Fyfe, G Broughton, C Mayne, M de Boer, H Ballantyne, T Mzungu. Richmond – J Riewoldt 2, R Nahas 2, B Miller, T Vickery, T Elton, T Derickx, D Connors, A Maric.Best : Fremantle – T Mzungu, G Broughton, C Pearce, P Duffield, H Ballantyne, M Johnson. Richmond – S Edwards, J Webberley, S Tuck, B Ellis, D Martin, B Miller.Injuries : Fremantle – Nil. Richmond – Nil.Reports – Nil. Umpires - Margetts, Law, Ritchie, Bannister.Crowd - 7,294 at Patersons Stadium.